Early in the pursuit of the irrigation investigations conducted by this Station, it became important to know the best amounts of water to apply at various stages of the plant's growth. The effect of the total quantity of water applied to a crop, depends in large measure upon the number of irrigations and their times of application during the season. It was thought that some light would be shed upon this problem by examining crops, under variable irrigation methods, at different times before maturity. Such work, also, it was hoped might yield more definite information concerning the manner in which varying amounts of water will affect plants. Naturally, the results obtained in such an investigation will not, of themselves, have final practical value, but may help in the establishment of irrigation practices.
Widtsoe, John A. and Stewart, Robert, "Bulletin No. 119 - The Effect of Irrigation on the Growth and Composition of Plants at Different Periods of Development" (1912). UAES Bulletins. Paper 70.